When we started working in Lille, among
young people who had never even had a Bible in their hands, it
meant seeking to be articulate to their generation. Young people in
France don't feel at ease with a rigid programme, they prefer
spontaneity.

DISCIPLES AND THE TIMOTHY VISION

As a young student in Paris, Briand was
challenged by George Clark (USA) of the Navigators: "You want to
teach others, but what place does the Bible really have
inyourlife?" This verse became ingrained in our lives: 'Your Word I
have hidden in my heart that I might not sin against You' (Psalm
119:11). The Word spoke and worked in and through us to others.

A guiding dynamic of l'Eau Vive is 'The
things that you have heard from me among many witnesses, commit
these to faithful men who will be able to teach others also' (2
Tim. 2:2). Through teaching the Bible, our lives and the lives of
others were changed. New local churches that developed were
composed of young, enthusiastic Christians, and continued growth
came as we sought to emulate the lives of 1st century
Christians.

L'Eau Vive began in Lille, where we
transformed a garage into one of the first Christian coffee bars in
France. Those who had drunk too much in the neighbouringestaminets
(pubs)came in to sing at the top of their voices and discovered a
living Saviour. Many made professions of faith and joined in with
all that we did. It was indeed 'the church in the street and the
street in the church' (Alain Choiquier, France). The early leaders
- Rose, Nicole, Monique, Théo, Daniel and, later, Evelyne - and
others serve the Lord today in local churches. These young people
needed significant, personal relationships in order to grow into
'Timothys'. Our friendship was not based upon their understanding
of the finer points of our theology but on meeting a living
Lord.

POWER TO TESTIFY

The Lord spoke to us by another vital
verse: "You will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes to you,
to testify about me" (Acts 1:8). As a young boy, Théo caught our
enthusiasm for making the good news known, and later he became
president of l'Eau Vive, Lille. Together with a team from Operation
Mobilisation, we helped Alain Choiquier launch theCommunauté
Evangélique de Paris Nation (Church of Paris Nation). In time the
believers purchased a hall under the auspices of l'Eau Vive, Lille.
They launched l'Eau Vive, Ile de France, with Claude Grandjean,
later president of a Bible school and faculty. Catherine O'Connor
worked with us for over 50 years and was always there to help.
Without her the work would not have progressed in the same way.

TO THIS GENERATION

We were concerned that those leading
should have roots in the Word of God and learn how to communicate
it to their generation. Leaders in Paris organised regular in-house
training sessions at the Church of Paris Nation. We had a growing
conviction that a centre was needed where short courses could be
offered to help people to become more articulate in their
presentation of the gospel.

OUTREACH

In Provence we were concerned about the
needs of young people in the university city of Aix-en-Provence.
Every Saturday, with the team, we drove our minibus into an area of
the town where drug dealers and burglars gathered. One evening
Briand was caught up in a conversation about the Bible. Losing
sight of our team, he suddenly found himself a prisoner of a
closely knit gang and overheard the words, "We've got him now.
Let's give him the works!" Suddenly inspired, he sat down on the
pavement and continued his conversation with them. They were so
embarrassed that they all sat down with him. That's where our team
found him half an hour later. We met Marie Thérèse, a staunch Roman
Catholic, on the city streets. She discovered, through counsel with
Hélène, that Jesus Christ is a living Saviour, and today she is
much in demand for teaching onBiblical Counselling, having written
several books on the subject.

MISSION

Another verse in the ethos of l'Eau Vive
is Matthew 28:19. The Lord Jesus told His team of leaders:
"Therefore, as you go, disciple people in all nations."

From l'Eau Vive, Provence, we began
churches, firstly in Aix-en-Provence then in Istres, followed by
Apt and Vitrolles, often with the help of Operation Mobilisation.
Under the slogan,Disciples Together, we held a training year at
l'Eau Vive, Provence. One participant has lived in Colombia and
another spent two years in the Ivory Coast. The Lord also opened
doors in Madagascar, where André Tabailloux (France) was a
'missionary-apostle' and we were able to begin a clinic in Tuléar
in the south of this big island.

A year or so later, while teaching at the
Université des Nations, Togo, we met a group of men from the
neighbouring Republic of Benin, who asked us to help them. Then our
African brothers asked if we could launch l'Eau Vive in Benin. We
made it clear that we were not an evangelical credit bank but that
we ourselves lived by faith, depending on the Lord for our daily
needs. The two or three churches of those days have become nearly
160 local churches and preaching centres.

Each year visitors from France go to
teach the students atCentre de Formation Biblique (Bible Training
Centre); some of them will probably be led into a pastoral ministry
while others may have a gift for teaching and will help at the
Bible centre.

In the city of Cotonou is theCentre
de Santé Eau Vive (the Eau Vive Health Centre), built entirely by
the believers. They have a fully equipped ambulance, donated by
German believers. Bryce, the head nurse, is responsible for minor
operations and is appreciated by all. Dr Hervé, the medical
advisor, is carrying out research for the World Health
Organisation, seeking to develop an easily absorbed, inexpensive
antimalarial drug.

Standing with these believers, and those
in Benin, is the team calledMission Diaconale Eau Vive. It
comprises faithful workers such as Rodolphe Uhlmann in
Aix-en-Provence, Bernard Gotter in Vitrolles, and Théo in Lille,
who are all in full-time employment, but seek to encourage others
to pray for Benin.

Our vision is to see the local church not
as a building for meetings and ceremonies, but as a mobile unit of
the body of Christ, growing numerically and in maturity.